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MG MGF Technical - TF160 2004 Alarm System Problem

Can anyone help with the following problem? Recently purchased the car at auction without any factory warranties and found the locking system very temperamental. Locking usually okay however unlocking rarely works first time and most often requires two to three dozen operations to unlock or manually using key. A suggestion was frequency drift??? Has anyone experienced a similar problem or can assist with advice on how to fix? Perhaps alarm system manufactured by other than MG Rover ... if so, who so that I may contact them. Does anyone know its location within the car? Can the system be retuned back to correct frequency? Any help or advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Jill
Jill

Hi Jill,
I'm having exactly the same problems as you after buying TF 160 Spark at auction in Sydney. Very frustrating when someone next to you "blips" their Jap Nistoyda and hops in and drives off while you are furiously pressing the remote. Will look forward to any responses with interest.
Cheers

Tony
Tony Todd

Hi Tony
Don't seem to have achieved much with the above - have you had any luck finding a solution? We found a couple of suggestions but they haven't worked. So we continue to press and press and press until finally it decides to work. Apart from that very happy with the purchase, although clock doesn't work. Need to get that one sorted as well.
Jill
Jill

I've just purchased a new TF160 and have found all the locking works perfectly each time. However, have the cars been sitting around for a while? It could be something as simple as the batteries in the remote units being tired (apologies if this sounds obvious, you may have thought of it already). Also check on the handbook, it has a section which notes what the red dash indicator light will show if the battery is low or if there is a remote malfunction.
Mike

Mike, you could be on a roll with the battery - it is an annual service replacement on the TF. Mine was changed by the dealer when I collected the car new; I suspect he knew something that I wasn't supposed to know.
John Ponting

I seem to remember some threads about checking the receiver aerial for the alarm - it may be coiled up somewhere under the central console but try a search in the archives first. HTH.
Tony

Hi Jill,

I think we must have the only TFs where the central locking doesn’t work properly!

It seems that the problem with your car is more severe than with mine. If I stand within a metre of either door, it will always lock. When unlocking, if I hold the remote about 10 cm from the driver’s door and move it from side to side, it will usually unlock after about 6 tries. Unlocking the passenger door is often a lottery and I sometimes have to come around to the driver’s side.

Interestingly, if I test the central locking at home, I can lock and unlock it like a “normal” car up to about 10 metres away. However if I let the car sit for 10 minutes and I come back, I have the same problems again. I wondered about the batteries, but both the car and remotes had new batteries put in before I picked it up and I have since changed a remote battery with no improvement. It is almost as if the remote need to establish contact with the alarm module before it can lock/unlock and while it remains in contact, it works perfectly. Maybe your theory of frequency shifting has some merit.

I’m not sure what the answer is. It seems fairly obvious we aren’t going to get much further here. I’ll put it on my list of things to be looked at the first service. My newest best friend (service manager at mg specialist here in Sydney) seems pretty cluey and I’m sure he’ll come up with something. I’ll keep you posted

Kind regards

Tony

Tony Todd

Tony, Jill
Here is the link to MGF FAQ's see part 2 for where the aerial is located, it may fix your problem.
I also have heard that the blipper can be influenced by uinterference from other radio sources.
The one in my MGF Trophy works Ok although range can vary depending where I am.

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/MGF/mgfaqs.htm

Leigh
MGF Trophy 160
MGB MkII
Leigh Taylor

Tony, Jill
Here is a link to Dieter's site, he is a mine of information about MGF/TF's.

http://www.mgfcar.de/index.htm

Leigh
MGF Trophy 160
MGB MkII
Leigh Taylor

You could try to increase the blipper signal power. When you blip it, hold it under your chin and you may find the antena effect of your body increases the range. Just ignore the strange looks from passers by. :-)

Well it worked with my F's blipper. I have never had any problems with my 2003 TF (so far). I will be asking the dealers about blipper battery replacement soon...
Neil Courtney

Early MGFs in the UK suffered from interference from a variety of different sources, eg mobile phone masts, microwave ovens and police radios.

If your blipper works fine in one location but not in another this may be the cause.

Chris
Chris

Jill,
here is a previous thread of mine that may make good reading. (or it could put you to sleep)
There are in it some links that have lots more info.

You could take the car to a Rover dealer (or equivalent) that has a "testbook" system to test your car system and fobs. Ring them first, talk to the service manager and explain what happens.
Hopefully they can help track done the actuall problem.

Look at this site, what type of fob do you have?
http://www.remotekey.co.uk/mgf.htm


Cheers,
Branko
Branko

Oops forgot to post the thread:

http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&mode=archiveth&subject=69&subjectar=69&thread=2005040803205428318

Cheers,
Branko.
Branko

Hi guys

Thank you all so much for your advice. Will give it a go and let you know the outcome.

Jill
Jill

This thread was discussed between 17/07/2005 and 28/07/2005

MG MGF Technical index

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